Speakeasy Custom Tattoo

Ashley Wollaston is an outstanding tattoo artist. Such a great talent and very professional.
I highly recommend Ashley and this shop.
The shop is very clean and nice atmosphere.

Ashley was the artist behind my first tattoo! I had a great experience:
1) As almost everyone has mentioned, the actual shop is very well kept/​clean/​décor is awesome and inviting
2) I had to cancel and reschedule my original appointment, Ashley was super understanding and even sent me an email update when an earlier appointment than the reschedule became available
3) I read that some people get upset when they don’t get emailed a sketch of the original tattoo prior the appointment, BUT Ashley literally designed exactly what I wanted/​I assume that since tattoo artists are contractors they are very busy and it didn’t bother me that I didn’t get a scanned image prior to the appointment/​Ashley was super accommodating and if I had a problem with the sketch (which I didn’t) she offered to fix or change it
4) The process was very professional. I felt super comfortable with Ashley throughout the session, she rocks! Also, I just want to point out again that these artists all seemed incredibly professional– yes, emails might take a 2 business days to get a response but never did she not answer any of my questions or address my concerns.
5) Lastly, the tattoo I got is beautiful. I’ve received a lot of compliments and it healed perfectly. I could not be more happy with my experience.

Ashley Wollaston is awesome sauce!!! I originally wrote the first sentence in all caps but Unilocal doesn’t like yelling…
Seriously though Ashley Wollaston is a brilliant artist and I highly recommend her! I emailed her to make an appointment, she was quick to reply. Ashley sent me a detailed email about the shop, her rates and schedule. Ashley was very accommodating and professional. I sent her a few pics along with a brief description of what I had in mind. When I came in and saw the drawing I was so excited because it was exactly what I had in mind! Ashley is extremely talented and is able to take an idea and bring it to life. She’s so chill, easy to talk to and patient this made the session really fun and relaxing. She has impeccable attention to detail and really took her time to make sure my tattoo was perfect. I was blown away when I saw the final piece!!! Her passion for tattooing really shows through in her work. I can’t wait to book my next appointment with her!

Ashley Wollaston exceeded all of my expectations, and I couldn’t be happier with the piece that she created for me.
As discussed at our intial consult, Ashley shared her sketch with me before my first sitting. Then, she spent over two hours of her own time on the afternoon of my first appointment customizing the design with me. Her insight and experience was invaluable in molding the intial concept into an outline that resulted in a stunning tattoo. Ashley was extremely professional and a pleasure to deal with from the first email interaction through the final sitting, ensuring that I was 100% happy with the bespoke, final design before putting ink to skin.
She completed this piece over two sessions, and the end result is amazing. She is a gifted artist, dedicated to her craft and clients, and I am really looking forward to engaging Ashley to create my next tattoo.

My biggest regret is getting sold on the sweet ambiance and not reading the few bad reviews on here as I just saw the overall rating. More than one have had the same experience as myself. I first got in touch with Ashley a couple months back. We met for a consultation and she was only able to schedule me 2 months out. I was ok with that and planned my work schedule around the appointments. The piece I wanted was a big one and needed to be sketched out as it was a unique custom piece. That’s the whole reason I went to a custom shop and not a walk in one. My first appointment was cancelled the day of, and was rescheduled 3 weeks out. I was still ok with that as I took it as a genuine slack and appreciated not being rushed. I was expecting sketches the week off again and got nothing. I reached out the day before and was promised the sketch by the evening prior to the appointment. Still nothing. I am quite upset with the level of professionalism at a shop that prides themselves in custom work. I will be looking for a new shop in Chicago. I think if one is spending close to $ 1k on a big piece they should not be rushed or walk in the day off without seeing any sketches as promised.

This was my first tattoo and therefore my first experience. I looked online at the different artists, and emailed Crystal Martinez as I felt her profile was the best for what I wanted. However, I was dismayed to learn that it would be a minimum of a three month wait, and I think that only applied to clients she already had, as in she wasn’t accepting others. I can understand why, her portfolio is pretty amazing. They all are. That being said, I wanted my tattoo sooner than that so I looked around at other shops and other artists, and sadly was not as enamored. On a whim, I looked back at Speakeasy and lo and behold — Ashley Wollaston had joined the staff. I emailed her and asked about the wait, but since she had just started working, she had some openings. She was honest and informative; we emailed back and forth and worked out a time that was best for us. The day of, she was also very accommodating with helping perfect the design and placement.
The shop itself is interesting, you have to be buzzed in from outside and walk up a set of stairs. There’s a little sitting area and you fill out all of your paperwork on an iPad. I would most definitely go back, but I’d like to try another artist.

I had 2^nd tattoo done here… clean, professional… the quality was outstanding. I emailed some pictures of what I was looking for… my artist put together a beautiful sketch. I recommend to visit them first look at the artists portfolios of work so you can select one that has the style that suits your taste. If you are serious about getting a tattoo don’t think twice… this place is tops

I’m not quite sure what took me so long to write a review! Patrick has been tattooing me since 1995 — from a small 1″ x 1″ tattoo to a lower leg sleeve we just started, and everything in between. The quality of his tattoos is incredible — from his ideas, to placement, to execution.
Patrick manages to take what I have in my head and makes a piece that is exactly what I was thinking time and time again. For my new leg sleeve I handed him a thumb drive with pictures of my mom’s garden and let him choose what to use — it is coming out incredibly beautiful!
I’ve had my ribs, sternum and shin tattooed and none were as painful as I anticipated which I think speaks to his technique. He makes you feel comfortable during your session. If you feel like chatting he will chat, and if you don’t want to talk he stays quiet. But I suggest talking to him — he’s a pretty funny guy.
If you’re looking for that loud, walk-​in focused, flash on the wall shop, this isn’t it. As soon as you walk up the stairs and hear the machines buzzing, you enter a very relaxing atmosphere. The open floor plan is artistic and inviting and the shop is meticulously clean. The music playing can vary from Sinatra to Depeche Mode to Fugazi.
Over the years I’ve sent many friends to Patrick. Right now, he does have about a 6 month waiting list but it’s soooo worth the wait! Some friends recently haven’t wanted to wait and have been tattooed by other artists at the shop and all have been very happy with the work. My friends are now referring other friends to the shop — I love it!
I can’t recommend Speakeasy enough! If you’re on the fence about getting a tattoo here, get the hell off it and get in touch with one of the artists!

This was my first tattoo, and I couldn’t have been happier with the experience. I went to Jen Trok, and she is incredible. I emailed her with my ideas, a few photos of what I was thinking of, and we set up a time for a consultation a few weeks later. Going in for the tattoo, I was a bit nervous, but she was extremely professional and made the experience easy. My tattoo turned out better than I dreamed, and I get complements daily on it! When people ask where and who I went to for my art, I don’t hesitate to recommend.

Got the rest of my last coverup done last week. Seriously, Josh is great. I’ve gotten my hubby into the mix, he’s getting his tat redone in November!

Yesterday afternoon, I had the most wonderful first-​tattoo experience with Sean Adams. He is not only incredibly talented (he weaved his style wonderfully into the ideas I brought to him), but fun and approachable. He eased me into the ink club gently – making sure that if I had any questions, to ask him. I did not expect this experience to be comfortable, but it was very much so. I could not compliment or thank Sean (or Speakeasy custom tattoo’s) enough – and I’m quite confident that if you were to go, you’d say the same thing. Several of my friends came along, and now one of them has a booking, think that speaks quite a bit for itself.

So this is my first tattoo experience. Last night my girlfriend and I went in to get matching tattoos (shut up, I know it’s dorky but she’s better than I am so I have to try harder). First thing I noticed was how clean the place is. It’s pristine. Nothing out of place, no dust, nothing. Nice décor, I saw a few things I wouldn’t mind having in my home. We had to sit around a bit after our appointment time, we later learned that the guy before us had a bit of a rough ride, so it took our artist longer than expected. While we waited, we filled out all the «paperwork,» and I use quotation marks as it’s all on an iPad-​like thingy. When it was our turn, the artist (Sean) sat with us and worked out the design, tweaking and adjusting and whatnot. Then came the moment of truth. The girlfriend went first. This was her 5^th, and her priors include one on the ankle, one on her wrist and one on her side just under her arm. This one was on her wrist, and judging by her facial expressions and her grip in my hand, it looked kind of painful. When she was done, I asked if it was better or worse than she expected. She said it was worse, but she always forgets how bad it was. Next it was my turn. I laid down, he started, and at first it wasn’t that bad. Eventually I got to the point of wondering how it would look to walk around with an unfinished tattoo. Then I realized that if I let on to my gf that this was anything but a cakewalk, I would hear about it for awhile. So, I just smiled and thought about the 4-​pack of Surly I had in the fridge, and half-​an-​hour later, all done.
That was a lot of shucking and jiving to say that, for a newb, this was a great experience. Very clean, Sean was patient and did a great job, and if I ever decide to put myself through that again, I’ll definitely go back to Speakeasy.

Let me start by saying Jennifer Trok is amazing. Great approach to design, kind and welcoming, and knows how to handle her equipment like a boss! She did a custom piece for my arm and I’ve never felt so comfortable and happy with the whole process. The drawing she did was gorgeous. It was one of those «that’s what I was hoping for but couldn’t explain» moments. On the tattooing end, I’m a bit of a wimp when it comes to needles, but she worked through the process carefully and methodically. The whole thing was a perfect blend of professionalism and just general down-​to-​earth friendliness. I highly recommend her and her work.
It took me a long time to find a Tattoo studio with people that I trusted enough to put something on my skin permanently. I’m a designer and while not a tattoo artist in any right, I am incredibly picky about visual images.
After a good year of searching, I came across Speakeasy. Now, most of my favorite tattoo artists from Chicago are working here. The place has a great vibe to it as well. It’s clean and well kept, but also pleasant to be in. The artists all seem like great people and they have a nice variety of approaches to their work. I wouldn’t hesitate to come back for the next one.

I cannot say enough good things about Speakeasy. First of all, the open floor plan makes for a really chill environment. The space itself lends itself well to the genius of the artists that work there.
Speaking of genius, Sean Adams. I cannot say enough good things about him! So talented, patient, and really eager to make sure you love what you get. Sean spent a ton of time designing my custom tattoo, and even more time tweaking his design when I went in for the tattoo. Sean’s attention to detail and commitment to perfection made for an AMAZING tattoo that I am so happy with. Somewhat of a perfectionist, his passion totally plays off.
If you’re looking for a place to go for ink in Chicago, I wouldn’t go anywhere else.

Is it possible to get TOO MANY compliments on your tattoo? Go see Jen at Speakeasy if you want to find out!
I’ve gotten four tattoos from Jen, and she has done AMAZING work every time! The colors that she does are perfectly bright and bold. In fact, people (including other tattoo artists!) always as me if my tattoos are brand new, even though one is over three years old now. Jen’s artistry is also extraordinary. She tattooed a stunning arrow/​flowers design on my forearm, and I get compliments on it literally every single day! Plus Jen is super cool, relatable, and easy to talk to – all important things when you have to sit with someone for a few hours while they tattoo you!
The Speakeasy shop itself has the best vibes out of any tattoo place I’ve ever been to. First and foremost, it’s clean and they only use single-​use, disposable supplies. Also, the décor and layout of the place makes it clear that there is an elevated level of taste here. Plus, from all interactions that I’ve witnessed, it’s very obvious that the artists all support each other’s work. Overall, it’s incredibly welcoming!
I highly, highly recommend Jen Trok and Speakeasy Tattoo!

I give out 5 star reviews a bit liberally, as i am a hate it or love it type of person, but this 5 star rating is well-​deserved.
I went to Speakeasy to get my one and only tattoo done last February/​April from Sean Adams [who I am not sure is there anymore :(] and upon my initial visit, i was impressed by the staff (especially Sean) and how beautiful the shop was. It was by appointment only and had wonderful reviews on various websites, so I decided to come here and talk to Sean.
He walked me through the whole process, which was quite intimidating for what I wanted, the price, and the fact it was my first tattoo. Sean laid it all out for me and collaborated with my ideas to create something unique that I could sort of visualize, but could not produce. He ran with my idea and I loved his sketch/​watercolor.
I had two total sessions and also a touch up appointment, all with Sean, who was calm, professional and had a sense of humor that worked with mine, making the two 8 hour sessions much more bearable (we were on a mission to finish this thing!)
Sean was accommodating, though hard to get an appointment with, a I hear many of the artists can be since they are so highly regarded.
Funny note, Sean estimated the total time for the tattoo to be about 4 – 5 hours, but that turned out to not be the case due to the amount of effort and detail the young man put in. The session was $ 150 an hour and my first session lasted 8 (150×8=$ 1200) whcih would have bankrupt my poor ass at the time. So after the session ended (which was about 8 – 9 stright hours, till like 1:30am), Sean told me that since his time estimate was way off and that he really like the tattoo, he would do the whole thing (17×8=$ 2550!!!) for the original price of $ 600 which was a relief and super generous for a dude putting in a lot of work.
I had my second session and finished the beast and couldn’t have been happier. the touch up made it perfect. Will be returning once I decide on another new one.

This tattoo shop is great (would easily give it 5 stars for cleanliness, décor, feel and look of the place) but I can’t really speak for the other artists. This review is for Linnea who was my artist.
The good :
Linnea’s work is beautiful and she’s amazingly creative. Her style of art is the kind I’ve always loved and related to, which is why I chose her to be my artist. During my consultations, she was friendly, really awesome and understood exactly the kind of design I had in mind so I was really happy! Even the day of my appointment, she was great. She was helpful when asking how I felt before getting the tattoo (it’s my first) and made sure I was comfortable throughout it all. I love my tattoo (done by her) more by the day so the end result was one hundred percent satisfactory!
The bad :
I don’t know if this just me or has happened to anyone else but the truth is I wish Linnea would be prompt in responding to e-​mails. You only get in touch with an artist through e-​mails since it seems like their primary source of communication initially! The only e-​mails of mine she ever responded to were my first ever e-​mail where I was enquiring her availability etc. Shortly after this first e-​mail exchange, we met for my consultation and I was encouraged to send in as many ideas for designs as possible and to be in touch. I did exactly that and I just got no response. At All. The set appointment date during my consultation had to be changed so I even mailed regarding that and I got no response. It’s aggravating since I’m the one paying! I had to call the shop to talk to her and to check if she was free for another date and she bluntly said she can arrange for something only after I had given my deposit. Understandable, but this could’ve easily been conversed through a reply to my e-​mail! Especially when I made it very clear that she is the one I wanted to get inked by. She had read my e-​mails and chose not to respond.
In the end, after my tattoo was done, I was again told to be in touch in case I had any other questions and I mailed her regarding a question I had for the aftercare and STILL got no reply! I mean, this is after my husband and I tipped well and paying a good amount of money and still giving her the benefit of the doubt.
Also, one last thing, I was promised she would customize two designs but on the day of appointment, I had only one design shown to me. I didn’t question her only because I liked what she had. But, that was still a wrong thing to do I suppose.

So let me start by saying I thought I was an outline sort of person when it comes to tattoos. I have three tattoos and they were all super simple. I had an outline done on my forearm in Columbus and since it was the least painful of all of my tattoos I wanted to do more to it!
I started following different artists on Instagram and came across Linnea’s work! I love social media as it helps one do sufficient research before committing. Since my tattoo is of a horse, I wanted someone who I thought could capture an animal in an animated and soulful way. I felt that Linnea could be the one for the job.
On to the actual review! Linnea is patient, pleasant, a good listener and worked quickly! Her beautiful shading and detail made my tattoo look like a whole completely new piece of art. She is a true talent. I still cannot believe it’s on my body… mind=blown! And because she worked so quickly the price was way under what I had budgeted.
Speakeasy is clean, friendly and affordable. You really can’t ask for anything more. I know if I get another tattoo I have complete trust in Linnea to help me visualize what I want.

Love, Love, Love this place. They have some seriously awesome artists who are down to earth, friendly, and not mean or snobby to newcomers. I’ve had some negative experiences at the «big name» tattoo joints in the city being very unwelcoming and cold. The environment at Speakeasy is friendly and very inviting. The artists are fun, love what they do, and take it seriously.
I’ve gotten two tattoos from Heath and two from Jennifer. They are absolutely lovely and would highly recommend them. I’ve also seen a lot of work done by the other artists there and there is someone for every type of tattoo you’d want. Portraits, girly, black and white, badass, you name, they have an artist for you.
Prices are comparable to most of the high quality tattoo places in the city. Anywhere from $ 125-​$ 175 an hour, depending on the detail and work required. It’s well worth the price.

Speakeasy has a hidden doorway like the rabbit hole into Wonderland. but here you just fall into a sweet shop full of amazing artists. everyone here is super nice and helpful and the space itself is really cool. it’s lofty and open and even when all the artist are in full work mode, it’s still really peaceful inside.
having said that, this review is really for Tine. she is the best artist, hands down and I refuse to get tattooed by anyone else. she always knows exactly what I’m picturing when I give her a bunch of random obscure ideas of what I want and she rolls them up into a beautiful work of art. I added a photo of my most recent piece from her, tigerlily, and I am in love with it. I get compliments on it non stop.
I’m even scared to let everyone know how amazing she is cause she is gonna get all booked up and then have no time to tattoo me!
speakeasy is great, tine is great, and that’s the bottom line! also if you’re lost, look for the door next to the flower shop!